Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation
Definition
The Dragon is one of the sharpest branches of the Sicilian Defense, arising after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6. Black fianchettoes the king-side bishop on g7, placing it on the long diagonal that “breathes fire” toward the center and queen-side—an image that inspired Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky to liken the pawn structure to the constellation Draco, giving the variation its name.
Typical Continuations
- Main reply: 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. 0-0-0—leading straight into the Yugoslav Attack (see next section).
- Alternative lines include the Classical with 6. Be2, the Fianchetto with 6. g3, and the Levenfish with 6. f4.
Strategic Themes
- Opposite-side castling is common (White long, Black short), guaranteeing mutual pawn storms.
- The g7-bishop pressures the c3-knight and the e5-square, while Black’s c- and e-pawns fight for the center.
- White often sacrifices material on h5, d5 or c6 to rip open files toward the Black king.
- Endgames can favor Black because the bishop pair and long-term pressure on c3/c2 survive after the tactics burn out.
Historical Significance
Popularized in the 1950s and 60s by Yugoslav masters (Gligorić, Matanović, Ivkov), the Dragon surged to top-level prominence when Garry Kasparov adopted it as a main weapon in the 1980s. The advent of powerful computers revealed numerous forcing tactical sequences, pushing some elite players toward safer systems, yet the Dragon remains feared and beloved in club play.
Illustrative Game
K. Kasparov – N. Short, PCA World Championship, London 1993 (Game 13):
Kasparov’s exchange sacrifice 20. exf6!! and subsequent attack on the dark squares highlighted the double-edged nature of the Dragon: one tempo can decide the game.
Interesting Facts
- Bobby Fischer famously called the Dragon “inferior” but still played it (and won) against Rubinetti, Mar del Plata 1959.
- In many databases, the ECO code for the Dragon ranges from B70 to B79.
- The hyper-theoretical line 9…d5!?—the Soltis Variation—was first tested by U.S. master Jim Soltis in 1967 and is now main line theory.
Yugoslav Attack (vs. the Dragon)
Definition
The Yugoslav Attack is White’s most ambitious response to the Dragon. It begins after 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. 0-0-0, with typical follow-ups h2-h4-h5, g2-g4, Bh6, and often a rook lift to h1. Named for a generation of Yugoslav players who refined the system in the 1950s, it embodies the principle of “attack before you are attacked.”
Core Move-Order
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
- 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. 0-0-0
Strategic Battle Plan
- White: Launches a pawn storm with h4-h5 (sometimes g4-g5), trades dark-squared bishops with Bh6, and sacrifices on h5 or e6 to open lines.
- Black: Counters on the c-file (…Rc8, …Qa5, …Nxd4) and the long diagonal, often striking in the center with …d5 to blunt the bishop on e3.
- Tactical motifs: the “exchange sac” …Rxc3, the “Greek Gift” Bxh7+ does not work here, while the rook-swing Rh1-h8+ is a recurring killer for White.
Historical & Modern Impact
From the pioneering efforts of Gligorić and Matanović to the computer-aided novelties of the 21st century, the Yugoslav Attack has shaped the entire evaluation of the Dragon. Many grandmasters— including Anand, Topalov, and Nakamura—use it as a test bed for deep engine preparation.
Model Miniature
S. Gligorić – V. Boleslavsky, Dubrovnik Olympiad 1950:
A textbook demonstration: 19. h5! breaks through on the h-file; the sacrifice 22. Rxc3? backfires and White’s queen invasion ends the game swiftly.
Interesting Nuggets
- The line was once nicknamed the “Sturm und Drang Attack” in German literature—“storm and stress.”
- A well-timed …d5 counterblow is so critical that some databases label moves with “!” or “??” solely on whether Black manages to play …d5 in time.
- With opposite-side castling almost forced, the average master-level game in the Yugoslav Attack lasts only about 30 moves—significantly shorter than most Sicilian branches.